Tonight we will go to our friends’ house. A lot of friends will be there as this is our traditional “CHILI” night – something we’ve done every Halloween for years.

The kids will be running through the house, the doorbell will be ringing nonstop, we parents will be taking turns handing out candy and admiring the darling costumes (or commenting on the not-so-lovely costumes) … and we’ll be enjoying some of Anne’s tasty Chicken Chili.

The women usually congregate together around the table and the men hang out in another room. The kids trade their candies in the garage. It just happens that way. It has always happened that way.

Close friendships are crucial. We need to share. We need each other.

Truly these are the best years of our lives. We know that raising our families is a gift from God and the gifts we’ve been handed, our marriages and children, are what brings us together.

So in the midst of Halloween, costumes, candy and pumpkins, we parents know that it’s not about a beautiful home or the food that will be served tonight – it’s about tradition, memories, happiness and catching up with great friends.

Some of our kids are older now or have moved on to college. Some of our kids are too old for trick-or-treating and are off working at harvest festivals or hanging out with their buddies.

But we parents keep coming back. It’s our tradition.
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(I’m not sure what Anne puts in her Chicken Chili, but here is my recipe, adapted from Portland’s Palate cookbook, pg. 181)

SPICY CHICKEN CHILI

1 Costco Roasted Chicken (pulled apart)
2 T oil
1 cup onion, chopped
1 pepper (I use red or yellow), chopped
Lots of garlic
2 cans Mexican-style stewed tomatoes
2 cans pinto beans, drained
1 can kidney beans, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 cup salsa
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp chili powder
½ tsp salt

Sauté onion, pepper and garlic. Add chicken and rest of ingredients and simmer for 20 minutes. OR simmer in crock-pot all day long.

This recipe tastes even better when it sits overnight and is served the next day. Double or triple the recipe for a real crowd-pleasing meal!

Happy Halloween!

(Photos: our sweet Andie playing in a Portland pumpkin patch; Paul and me at a dress-up party earlier this year)